8 Game-Changing Parenting Predictions for 2025

As Yogi Berra famously quipped, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” But that’s not going to stop me from sharing what I see on the horizon for parents and families in 2025. After decades of working with families and staying at the forefront of parenting research and trends, here are my top 8 predictions for the year ahead.

(Note: These are predictions, not preferences. I am not saying they’re either good or bad. They’re simply what I predict is going to happen.)

1. The Rise of Lighthouse Parenting

We’re finally moving beyond the tired helicopter vs. free-range parenting debate. In its place, a more nuanced approach is emerging: lighthouse parenting. Like a lighthouse, these parents stand firm and steady, offering guidance while allowing their children to navigate their own waters. 

Think about it: if helicopter parents hover and free-range parents disappear, lighthouse parents illuminate. They understand that their role isn’t to control every aspect of their child’s life but to provide steady, reliable guidance. This approach bridges cultural extremes, offering something that resonates deeply with modern parents who want to raise capable, independent kids while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

We saw this beautifully demonstrated in Parental Guidance Season 2 with Sammy and Jason’s approach to parenting their daughter, Pepper. Their example showed us what’s possible when we move away from overparenting and towards this more balanced approach.

(I’d prefer to see need-supportive parenting on the rise, as I described in my book. This is a positive approximation, though, and improves on previous popular styles of parenting.)

2. The AI Parenting Revolution

Imagine having instant access to every parenting book ever written, every expert’s wisdom, and every experienced parent’s insights—all perfectly curated for your specific situation. That’s where we’re headed in 2025. AI is evolving from a simple helper to a comprehensive parenting partner, and this year we’ll see it explode.

The AI revolution isn’t just about parenting advice—it’s transforming everything from meal planning to homework help. What’s particularly fascinating is how AI is learning to adapt to different parenting styles and cultural contexts. It’s not replacing parental intuition; it’s enhancing it.

(Side note: An AI search using ChatGPT, Anthropic, Gemini, or similar tools requires at least 10 times the power of a Google search. Watch for major infrastructure impacts and tech giants increasingly backing nuclear energy. The Albanese government won’t change their tune, but Meta, Alphabet, and the USA certainly will.)

3. The AI Education Revolution Explodes

Traditional schools are becoming like landline phones in a smartphone world—functional but outdated. The cracks in our school system are widening, revealing that we’ve built a school system rather than an education system. This is not the teacher’s fault. Instead, it’s about the education industrial complex.

The real transformation isn’t about AI replacing teachers. It’s about the clash between industrial-era education and the personalised learning revolution that AI enables. Success in this new era will belong to schools, teachers, and students who become AI-literate and use it to enhance thinking and idea development, rather than treating it as a fancy search engine.

4. The Homeschooling Surge

The pandemic was just the preview—2025 is when homeschooling goes mainstream. Parents are pulling their children from traditional schools in unprecedented numbers, driven by concerns about:
– Bullying and school violence
– School refusal and anxiety
– Concerns about education department policies
– Declining academic standards
– Inappropriate behaviour and aggression

I’ve experienced this firsthand—I pulled two of my own children from school (now in Year 5 and Year 10), and we haven’t looked back. With today’s technology, every parent with a laptop has access to a potential private school right in their home. This isn’t just about escaping problems; it’s about embracing new possibilities for personalised learning.

5. Intergenerational Living and Staycations

The cost-of-living crisis is reshaping family life. Grocery prices continue to soar, energy bills are breaking records, and Australian households are carrying historic levels of mortgage debt. In response, we’re seeing the return of multi-generational living—a trend that, despite its challenges, often strengthens family bonds and support networks.

We’re also seeing changes in how families vacation. In 2025 expect to see staycations and camping becoming the new norm, with backyards replacing Bali and Byron Bay as holiday destinations. Why? It’s just too expensive to go away.

6. The YouTube Generation

Today’s children aren’t dreaming of Hollywood. They don’t want to be actors or rock stars. Instead, they’re aiming for YouTube stardom. This isn’t just a passing trend; it’s reshaping career aspirations. Research shows that one-third of children aged 8-12 in major markets say “YouTuber” is their dream job, and 81% of Gen Alpha are on YouTube, compared to 62% watching traditional streaming services.

YouTube’s dominance over both Netflix and TikTok will only grow in 2025. Currently, YouTube enjoys twice the monthly user base of TikTok, and it is the number one streaming platform in the world, with a higher market share than Netflix! 

(And speaking of TikTok—despite concerns, it’s not going anywhere. ByteDance will likely restructure to address US government concerns around Chinese spying, but the platform’s economic value ensures its survival.)

7. The Digital Detox Movement

Just as we now look back in disbelief at cigarettes in hospitals, future generations will be shocked by how freely we put phones in children’s hands. The removal of phones from state school classrooms throughout 2024 was just the beginning. Some studies suggest that schools implementing phone bans are seeing at least a 6% improvement in test scores. And no one is complaining. Not even the students. 

In 2025, Australia will lead a global revolution by restricting social media access for under-16s. With the average teen receiving 237 daily phone notifications, this isn’t just about reducing distractions—it’s about protecting mental health, learning, social development, and sleep.

8. The Year of the Boy

From Bendigo to Bunbury, our young men are retreating from education, work, and relationships at alarming rates. While we’ve focused on breaking glass ceilings (rightly so), we’ve overlooked the quicksand pulling our boys under.

The statistics are confronting: workforce participation among young men is declining, mental health challenges are soaring, and educational engagement is at historic lows. When your teenage son spends 8 hours gaming in his room, abstract debates about masculinity fade into the background—parents need practical solutions.

The popularity of figures like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and Jordan Peterson signals a desperate search for answers to what I compassionately call “the boy problem.” The solution isn’t turning back the clock—it’s helping our boys find purpose and connection in a rapidly changing world. (Stay tuned for my upcoming book on this vital topic!) This year will be the year masculinity starts to be celebrated again (and not at the price of hard-won gains for girls and women). 

A Final Prediction

Here’s one more prediction I know will come true: If you find ways—every single day—to genuinely connect with your kids, to see them, hear them, and value them, your relationships will flourish, your love will deepen, and your family will be happier.

What are your thoughts on these predictions? I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments below.

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